On July 14th, ILLUSION, a renowned Japanese adult game developer based in Yokohama, announced the end of their activities on Twitter. This news has left many players feeling disappointed and saddened. ILLUSION is well-known for its development of adult video games featuring impressive 3D graphics. Some of their notable games from the past decade include Honey Select, Koikatsu, and VR Kanojo.
The history of ILLUSION dates back to 1993, but for a long time, it remained relatively unknown. Initially, ILLUSION focused on developing reskin games such as Angel Army (エンジェルアーミー), which essentially involved adding adult content to existing games like Daisenryaku.
A screenshot of Angel Army shows a list of military units
This was a very bold move. At that time, the hardware capabilities were not able to support high-quality graphics, and even if they managed to create something, it might have been just polygon versus polygon.
Furthermore, playing 3D games required a graphics card, and not many people could afford it at that time. This market segment was not significant, so focusing on 3D adult games seemed like losing sight of the bigger picture.
However, ILLUSION was able to establish a strong presence in the 3D adult gaming industry after experimenting with several titles. Their journey began with Des Blood, a rail-shooting adult game released in 1997. From then on, ILLUSION consistently released at least one 3D adult game every year, gaining recognition and popularity among gamers.
Makai, one of ILLUSION’s experimental works in 1997
ILLUSION’s trick is combining adult content with regular gameplay mechanics, drawing inspiration from popular games. For instance, Requiem Hurts has a rail-shooting feature, Biko is a stealth game while the protagonist is a stalker, and Battle Raper is a fighting game. Despite the games often having clunky controls, many players fondly remember the diverse gameplay and the company's constant experimentation during this period.
A screenshot of Biko 2, whose graphic performance is quite impressive for an adult game of that time
One notable aspect of these games is their incorporation of dark and criminal elements, such as stalking, criminal organizations, and harassment. This controversial storytelling choice has resulted in these games being restricted to the Japanese market.
A screenshot of news in 2009, when someone tried to resell an ILLUSION game on Amazon UK and got banned
It became evident that this dark and crime-infused theme was not sustainable in the long run. In subsequent releases, ILLUSION shifted its focus away from narrative elements and instead emphasized customization features and sandbox gameplay. Players were now able to customize the appearance of the female protagonists, much like in many RPG titles, and engage in social interactions within the game's expansive world.
As time went on, this gameplay mechanic evolved and culminated in the 2016 release of Honey Select, which introduced a standalone studio feature. Players were given tools to customize characters and create their own 3D scenes by managing backgrounds, camera angles, character animations, and adding audio and visual effects. This feature resembled simplified 3D software like Blender, rather than a traditional game.
On social media platforms, many users have showcased their creations, ranging from 3D comics to short films, utilizing Honey Select and subsequent releases, regardless of whether they involve adult content or not.
On Pixiv, a Japanese online community for artists, there are over 21k non-adult works with the #HoneySelect tag
Originally, ILLUSION's games were exclusively available in Japan, with official support and translations limited to the Japanese language only. However, with the release of Honey Select Unlimited in collaboration with the online English erotic game storefront FAKKU, ILLUSION's policy has since changed, allowing for wider accessibility and international support.
Subsequent releases, including Play Home, Honey Select 2, Koikotsu, AI Girl, and Room Girl, have followed. However, for many players, these newer titles have gradually become homogenized and even diluted, with the studio feature overshadowing the core gameplay.
With similar graphics engines and comparable studio functionality, these releases often feel more like updates to the 3D software rather than standalone games. Consequently, many players have been reluctant to invest in these newer titles, leading some to speculate that this may be a significant factor contributing to ILLUSION's decision to cease operations.
The promotion picture of Honey Select 2
Despite ILLUSION's decision to cease operations, there are signs that the company may not disappear entirely. The official development account, @Projecti18, has recently undergone a transformation, deleting all previous posts and renaming itself to "Project準備中," which translates to "preparing a project." In a recent post, they also hinted at further information to be revealed on August 4th, accompanied by an image of a 3D anime girl. This has sparked speculation among players that ILLUSION may be planning a comeback in a different form.
8月4日（金）正午の情報を公開します。
— Project準備中 (@Projecti18) July 28, 2023
準備を進めていますので、今しばらくお待ちください。 pic.twitter.com/37fGl7v3GF